64 THE BIRDS OF ROUKEN GLEN PARK. 
from January, or even earlier, till the end of May. The song is 
somewhat like that of the blackbird, but wilder and louder, and 
the single phrase of which the song consists is repeated rapidly, 
not—as in the case of the blackbird—leisurely, and with a pause 
between each phrase. 
Song Thrush (Zurdus musicus, L.)—Here, as in other wood- 
land districts, our commonest thrush, and perhaps the finest 
singer among all our song birds. In an open season the song 
may be commenced at Christmas, and is continued, by some 
individuals, at least, until July. 
In winter the song thrush is apparently absent from the Rouken 
Glen, but that there are nearlyalways a few birds present is proved by 
the fact that a mild day usually induces a few birds to burst into song. 
The nest of the song thrush is a beautiful structure made of 
rootlets, coarse grass, or small twigs, and neatly lined inside with 
cow droppings or decayed wood; the whole so strong and firm 
that it resembles the half of a cocoanut shell. Among all the 
song thrushes’ nests I have seen I have never yet observed one 
lined with mud. 
Redwing (Zurdus iliacus, L.)—This thrush visits us in winter 
in small flocks, and it occurs here quite commonly. The first 
intimation of its arrival is usually its note, ‘‘see you,” from over- 
head on some dark October night, as the birds are finding their 
way to their winter quarters in this country. 
Fieldfare (Zurdus pilaris, L.)—Another winter thrush, and 
although often seen in the Rouken Glen, much less common than 
the redwing. It is more a bird of the open and upland country, 
the name fieldfare being from the Anglo-Saxon, and meaning the 
farer, or wanderer over the fallow, or untilled ground. 
Blackbird (Zurdus merula, L.)—Next to the song thrush in 
point of numbers, the blackbird is usually in song from March till 
June, and being rather more hardy than that species it is con- 
stantly to be seen in winter, even in hard weather. 
Whinchat (Pratincola rubetra (L.))—A summer visitor quite 
common in the neighbourhood, and often visiting the grounds of 
Rouken Glen. 
Redstart (Auticilla phenicurus (L.))—Another summer visitor, 
but it has only been noticed very rarely, in spring, on the way to 
its breeding quarters in some other part of the country. 
